Q: How to disable Win+W and Win+C hotkeys on Windows 11 I've tried setting HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\DisabledHotkeys = "W,C". I've also tried enabling Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorter\Turn off Windows Key hot keys
Neither of them are preventing Win+C from opening the "try teams" ad

nor the Win+W from opening the Weather app full of ads

This answer may disable other keys (no idea) but it does not disable these keys.
How can I disable these hot keys? (without 3rd party software)

A: The answer found on
answers.microsoft.com
says:

You can use Microsoft's own tool called Power Toys. Power Toys for Windows 11 is available from the Microsoft Store. After installing the tool you will find in it the "Keyboard Manager" there you will be able to set the shortcut Win + c as disabled.


A: Widgets can be disabled entirely through Group Policies:
Open the Local Group Policy Editor and go to Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Widgets/Allow widgets and set it to Disabled
To disable the the chat:
Open the Local Group Policy Editor and go to Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Chat/Configures the chat icon on the taskbar and set it to Enabled, but set the state to Disabled

